Prayers for 2020

For those of you who have been patiently following my thoughts through the years, you know that at this time of year, I do not make New Year Resolutions. I have no doubt that I will not be able to keep them in my own strength. So instead I lay before the throne my requests for the year to come. Ending each one with the prayer He always answers, "Nevertheless, Thy will be done." And answers lovingly--and in His time. Here are my requests for 2020. Some I've been praying for years--He doesn't mind in the least hearing them again. Some He has newly laid on my heart. He cherishes those as well--incense before His sovereign throne.

1. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight--each and every day. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.
2. May all those who enter my room be safe in every way--physically, spiritually, emotionally, academically. And may they know that they are safe.
3. May You give me the strength and wisdom that I need to fulfill Your calling in my life. I love those I serve, those I serve with, and where I serve--but it is not easy. May I through my life and words touch those young hearts You've assigned to my care that they may know that even though it's not easy, it has been worth it all to follow You.
4. May You give me opportunities to share my faith, courage to embrace the opportunities, and confidence to trust that the words the Spirit puts on my lips are the precise truths that need to be shared.
5. May I be honest enough to admit that there are so many things that I don't know and not try to hide behind the arrogance of self-image.
6. May I have many more walks with You at The Acres filled with a heart of gratitude for the beauty that surrounds me and the beauty of a sense of Your presence.
7. May Your people rejoice in the persecution that comes our way--amazed and humbled that You count us worthy to suffer for Your sake. May we pray as passionately and lovingly for our enemies as we do for our friends.
8. May You comfort all those who have suffered loss, who have an empty place in their lives and around their tables. May I never forget to pray for them no matter how long ago they experienced the loss.
9. May I always rest in Your forgiveness and mercy and grace.
10. May the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
11. May I live a life that radiates both my eagerness to serve others in Your name, and my eagerness to see You face-to-face when You are ready to call me Home.
12. May You open the eyes of those I love that at one point in their lives looked upon Your cross and said, "O, how He loved Me"--and now look upon Your cross and say, "That's not love." I plead with the Spirit that He--because only He can--will take away the blindness.
13. May Your Spirit anoint my words with the promise that Your Word never returns to You empty.
14. May I leave my yesterdays and tomorrows in Your hands.
15. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Quickly.

Hearts

We need to focus so much more on celebrating someone's strengths than criticizing his or her weaknesses. The one is called edification. Its antonym is vilification. Edification deepens one's love for someone else. It strengthens two people's love for one another. Vilification not only destroys love, but may in time destroy the one--or ones--we are called to love. "Love covers a multitude of sins." Constant criticism hardens the heart and builds resistance in a heart to humility, and thus, repentance. Those two traits flourish in a heart that knows love--gracious, encouraging love. If we instead water their hearts with negativity will they not believe that God's attitude toward them is the same? Will they not doubt His love for them as well? Will not their understanding of His love wither and die? Nothing is harder than a hard heart. A critical spirit toward others is the soil in which the seed of bitterness is planted in their souls. And nothing is harder to root out of someone's heart than bitterness. We turn them into Esau's--face filled with the bitter tears of self-pity but not one tear of hope and joy for the mercy and grace that God--who knows them better than anyone else--is eager to pour into their lives. Are we going to be nurturers of the hearts we love? Or are we going to be refiners of hearts of stone?

O Love

"Your life is hid in Christ."

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."

Your sins, iniquities, and transgressions He has nailed to His cross. Debt--paid in full.

He has taken all your sins and cast them into the bottomless sea of His loving forgetfulness. "I will remember their sins no more."

How must I respond to such infinite mercy, infinite grace and infinite love? Only one way:

"O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thy ocean's depths its flow may richer, fuller be."

Encouraged

"Fear not."
"Let not your heart be troubled."
"Take no thought for tomorrow."

Encouragement from the Sovereign God of the Universe to you His child. In fact, you can put your name in front of each of those calls to obedience. That is what they are, you know?!

Al, fear not.
Al, let not your heart be troubled.
Al, take no thought for tomorrow.

Try it. Put your name there---He knows it--is delighted to know you by name. Try it.

And then, get going. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." He's never found a cup in the hands of a faithful servant that He couldn't overflow. And you should see the table He can prepare!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning at The Acres. Up early--the Alarm Clock insists. Watched the light of day emerge. Breakfast--eggs, sausage, and English muffin. Orange juice to drink. Never fear the Pepsi came a tad later! Slow and quiet beginning to the day--perfect for The Acres.
My Lap Top and I spend part of the morning admiring our feathered friends at breakfast. The only service she can provides is purring. Christmas bells were provided by the blue jays. I don't know what you would call the staccato of the chickadees. My tree ornaments keep moving from tree to tree to the patio. None of them break when they "fall." Reds, olive greens, black and whites, a touch of yellow in the tails of the goldfinch when they fly off, purples, slate blue gray of the nuthatches, lots of browns, white vees as the snowbirds take flight. Yes, my ornaments are always on the move. And I never have to put up or take down the trees. =)
I do have a little tree that stays decorated year round. I set it up when I read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. A memory tree if you will. Some of the ornaments on that tree have to be over a hundred years old--maybe the tree itself. Add a few candles (Hanukkah candles!), and it creates a beautiful aura especially with the lights turned off. Can't leave it up long--someone I know likes to play with dangling things.
The morning walk was peaceful. Nothing, of course, is blooming--a couple of months til that starts up again. But I'm sure they're thinking about it. Greens, though, everywhere--firs, pines, blue spruce, Lenten rose, grasses. Blue-gray sky. Browns and blacks and whites. The pussy willow by the pond is already budding. The pond itself is ice-covered.
I love my Christmas at The Acres. The silence. The calm. The subtle colors. The movement and brightness of my feathered friends. Even the purring of my Lap Top. Serenity is probably the best word to describe my morning. The Creator who is my Savior always makes His presence known here The Acres. The King is on His throne.

A Monologue

A Christmas Monologue: Imagine

The old shepherd mingled with the small group of pilgrims headed up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. As the evening darkened, he introduced himself to the stragglers at the end of the line who had just started a small fire to ward off the nighttime chill:
"Greetings my friends. I, too, am headed to the Passover feast. May I join you by the fire? Bless you. My name is Micah. I have been a shepherd here in the hills of Judea practically my entire life. What a beautiful place to tend the flocks! The rolling hills of the Judean countryside, the many small, still pools for the sheep to drink--I would not trade places with anyone. And to spend a night under the stars of promise . . . magnificent. I am not the young whippersnapper I use to be; just an old one now, but my life is full. I go to the Passover as often as I can get away, full of expectations.
Can I tell you my story? Oh, it's not a story story--it really happened to me over thirty years ago, but I love to tell the story. You may think that I am a senile old man making up fantasies--but it is not so. It happened when my friends and I were on the night shift--keeping watch over the flock, keeping them safe from predators. I loved the night shift--dark, still, the million stars of promise. Stars of promise? Oh, you know the story, don't you? Jehovah called Abraham out of his tent and into the darkness: "Look up Abraham and tell me what you see. Yes, a million, million stars. I make you a promise My friend: your descendants shall be as numerous as those stars." And childless Abraham looked up at those stars, and though he could never do the math, he believed God! "I believe my God that you will--not can--will make it so." What faith! (Jehovah, of course, knows the numbers of the stars and calls them all by name!). Abraham's answer so delighted God's heart that He gave our father an even greater gift. "Abraham, because of your faith in My promise, I declare you righteous." Declared righteous! The greatest gift of all!
Anyway, I digress. Back to the hillside! It was chilly--like tonight--so we had started a few small fires. Bright enough to let the predators know we were there. Not so bright as to frighten the sheep. Sheep are such stupid and paranoid creatures. No wonder God compares us to them--a little slow and paranoid, eh? I was standing at the very edge of our campsite--right where the light of the fire begins to fade and the darkness begins. I was standing there, rod and staff in hand, listening to the sheep and taking in the stars. (I'm one of those stars you know. A star of the promise!) Suddenly, the countryside turned as bright as day--brighter! I turned--and here you may begin to doubt me--I saw an angel--as radiant as the sun. Petrified--I was petrified. My knees were knocking together--doing the Belshazzar waltz--but I couldn't move. And then the angel spoke. "Don't be afraid, Joel, be still Levi, Andrew, be courageous Micah. I bring you good news--the gospel. Fear not!" And at his voice I went from terrified to perfect peace. "This very day has been born for you--in Bethlehem--the Christ, the Messiah, your Savior. You must go to Bethlehem and find Him. You will know Him for He is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." I confess. I was incredulous. The Messiah born in a manger. Come on. But a whisper touched my doubts. "Yes, Micah, the Messiah was born into one of the poorest families in all Israel. Who is like Jehovah?" My doubts fled. And suddenly the whole angel choir showed up. They surrounded us, shouting and singing, "Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth to men of good will! The hills echoed! We couldn't help ourselves and joined in wholeheartedly. "Glory to God in the highest!!" And then, whoosh, as suddenly as they appeared they were gone. We stood in the fading light of our fires, the night closing in, silence everywhere except for the bleating of the sheep, the stars of promise growing brighter in the darkness. Impetuous me--I took off for Bethlehem. "Let's go my friends. The angel told us to go and find our Savior! Come on. You can't tell an angel, "No." Don't worry--they'll keep watch over the sheep."
So off we went. Laughing, shouting, dancing, running, standing still and looking at each other in wonder. What a journey! And a short one. We made good time believe me. When we reached the city, we began to search. Not too difficult. Bethlehem is such a tiny city. Then, I heard Joel whisper. "Look! I see candle light in that stable." We cautiously peeked inside. A young woman lay back on a bed of sorts. You could see her exhaustion. But how beautiful she was! A mother with child--is there anything more beautiful? Next to her stood her husband, his arm around her giving her his strength. Oh, you could tell they were in love. She had her head resting on his shoulder. (A sure sign of love gentlemen--head resting on the shoulder--trust me.)
We barged in. Well, I did--and the guys followed me. We scared them, of course. "Oh, I'm sorry. Don't be afraid. Angels send us to find you--to see your baby. You probably don't believe in angels from God giving messages to His people, but I swear that . . . Oh, you do believe that happens . . . Who is like Jehovah. Ah, my name is Micah--a shepherd. This is Enoch. Levi and Simeon--yes, twins. Andrew. The tall one in the back with curly hair, Joel. You? Joseph! That's a strong name. What a man of God Joseph was! Miriam. Miriam. What a beautiful name. Miriam. To say it is like whispering a song. The baby? Over there. Oh, in the manger. In the manger. Look, Enoch. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. In the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes--just as the angel said. Our Messiah. "Joseph, have you chosen a name for him yet? I know, you have eight days, but I was just . . . Jesus. Jehovah saves. Yes. Yes! Pardon? Gabriel told you to name Him that. Gabriel? Oh, that Gabriel . . . Angels giving messages from God to His servants. Can't tell an angel, "no," right? What all did he say?"

"You will name Him, Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Our sins, our sins. Save us from our sins. Oh, Miriam, may I hold your child. Don't be afraid. I'm a great baby holder. Got three of my own. Youngest is only three months old. Isaac. Our first son. Laughter--a son of promise. I'll be gentle. I promise. One tear, and I'll put Him down. Oh, thank you."
Andrew, look, I have the Savior of the world in my arms. Our Savior. My Savior. In my arms. So beautiful and calm. Fearless at a day old! (I couldn't help but kiss Him. Okay, more than once.) Can I sing my favorite psalm for Him, Miriam? I sing terribly. Forget the words. Add my own. But my heart is bursting with a song. Please? Forgive my noise. And my improvisation. Thank you.
My favorite. 'The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He leads me to feast in the pastures so green. He leads me to drink at the still, quiet spring. He restoreth my soul. He restoreth my soul. Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for You are my breath. Thy rod and Thy staff are a comfort to me. You anoint me with blessings that my enemy must see. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days, all the days of my life. Yes, surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days, all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. He restoreth my soul. He restoreth my soul.
"Again sorry for the personal rendition. My heart must sing. I"ll put Him down now. Nary a tear! Brave child. I think He likes me.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion. We had to come. The angel . . . We will go now. Thank you, for your hospitality and patience Joseph. Thank you for your gentle graciousness, Miriam. Miriam. Miriam. God has given you the greatest gift. What a treasure He has given you two Out you go guys. Move along you whippersnappers."

Five steps out the door, I had to go back. "Forgive me Joseph. Forgive me Miriam." I went and knelt by the cradle. And prayed this prayer. "Jehovah-Jireh. I do not know how You will use this lovely child, Your Christ, to take away my sins. It seems so impossible. How? How? But I believe! i believe You, my Lord and my God. I believe! Through this child, our Savior, You will save me from my sins. Yes, yes, yes. I, too, will be declared righteous. Glory to God in the highest.
On the way back to the fields we woke up everyone. Shouting, "Wake up Bethlehem! Glory to God in the highest. He has send His Messiah, the Christ, here, today. To take away our sins. Wake up Bethlehem! Wake up Judea! Wake up Jerusalem! Wake up world. The Savior has been sent. Believe! He will take away your sin! Wash them white as snow. Only believe."
And so, my story ends. But I tell it again every chance I get.
How could I not. And so, now you know why I go to the Passover feast with such anticipation. He walks in Israel this day. I know I will see Him again. He is going to save me from my sins. Thirty-three years I have been waiting for Him. Maybe this year? He will save me from my sins. He will. Wash me white as snow. I believe.
"Look at those stars. One of them is me. Are you a star of the promise? 'The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He restoreth my soul. He restoreth my soul.'"

Yes."

Lies and Promises

When the devil has you paralyzed thinking about your past--all those failures and mistakes; things you shouldn't have said or done and things you did say and do . . . When the devil has you paralyzed thinking that what God has called you to do today seems impossible--and maybe even irrelevant . . . When the devil has you paralyzed fearing a future that can't help but be a disaster . . .

There is only one thing to do: Obey. Live a life of obedience today.

Ask all those faithful saints from the past who are now resting in His presence what He can do with yesterday's trials and failures. How do I ask them? Is that a Bible I see on your desk?

Remember the only way to run the marathon of the Christian life is one step at a time. It is impossible to run it any other way. The journey Home is made up of single steps. And millions of faithful saints have already arrived at the "finish line." Triumphantly. How'd they manage it? How did they get there? You know.

Rejoice! (yes, that's an exclamation point!) Each day has been given you for that very purpose--to rejoice and be glad in it. And He has promised you all the strength you need for this day. And wait until you cast that net one more time. "Master, we haven't caught a thing all day and all night; nevertheless, at Your word we will cast it one more time." The abundant life He has called you to is one filled with overflowing nets. So cast away--He has the fish ready, right where He wants them, when He wants them there.

The future? Here's what the future holds for His children: you will see Him; you will be transformed into His likeness--immortal and incorruptible; you will forever be with Him; you cannot even begin to imagine all He intends to do for you in the eternity to come--it's so marvelous that it's impossible to put into words. I think your future may be okay.

Don't be paralyzed by the enemy's lies. Be energized by the omnipotent God's promises. Your Father's promises.

"Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same. All may fail but Jesus never, glory to His name." A dance of exalted joy is permissible. And if your feet can't manage it, your heart and mind and lips sure can.

Loving obedience to the promises is the cure for the paralyzing fear of the lies.

Charming

If I fail to show grace to those who have disappointed me (including myself)--and often have no idea that they've disappointed me . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who are saying one thing about their dedication to and love for Christ yet doing things that suggest that that can't possibly be true (remember as someone has said, "we can never see our own face.") . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who have failed . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who have deliberately hurt me and betrayed our friendship . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who are apathetic toward their walk with Christ . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who refuse to admit that they are sinners in need of a Savior--they are quite sure (if not adamantly sure) that they are good enough to please God . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who immaturity reveals that they are--believe it or not--immature . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who are not Christians and thus act as if they are not Christians (can you imagine that?!) . . .
If I fail to show grace to those who disagree with me on certain issues (disagree with me!!!) . .
If I fail to show grace to those who are not living up to my expectations . . .

Then, as someone has said, "I know nothing of Calvary's love."

"Grace 'tis a charming sound" the old hymn states. How charming are you?

The Sword

The Spirit wields His Sword--the Word of God--in order to send us running to the foot of the Throne of God seeking His mercy and help. We are to come boldly crying out that He will answer our prayer for transformation hastily; yet, fully submissive to His perfect timing in all things. The Sword's purpose is to purge out those things in our lives that detract from His likeness being evident in all that we do or say. The first truth that the Sword asserts is that I need to be changed--not someone else. My prayer is that I will be a faithful branch relying totally on Him since without Him working in my life, I can do nothing. But when totally dependent on the Spirit, I can do all the things He has called me to do. Even the rebuke of the righteous must be seen as the anointing that makes my cup run over with blessing and makes me a better vessel fit for His service. The deadliness of spiritual pride must be humbled in my life by His hand of love. And God cannot wield His Sword if it sits idly on my table until Sunday church. A Sword in its scabbard--even a two-edged one--is useless unless I embrace a first-hand relationship with its cleansing power. Immerse yourself in the Word, embrace its cutting edge, and hasten to the foot of the throne pleading for His mercy and His help in becoming more like Him. Every day.

Flat Tires

Backroads of Morrow County Update:
Dealing with a flat tire yesterday eventually led to a late night trip home backroad's style. I ended up with one of those little fake tires, and since they told me to not go over 50 on the way home, I eschewed the highway and wandered home the good way. The best part was that no one was on the roads but the chubby, old boy guy so I could meander at any speed I chose. Slow, slower, slowest---even stopped once to take in a marvelous manger scene. That was the beauty of the trip last night--Christmas lights everywhere glowing in the darkness of a dark country road. Some of the homes were just lights--some simple and elegant,, some abundant in light but beautiful, some just gaudy. Not many manger scenes, but some glorious ones. It was my visual "high" for the season. I may be tempted to try some other roads or re-do this trip from the other direction. Peaceful. Serenely shining out of darkness. Myriad colors. I wonder if anyone has ever done a study on Christmas displays revealing the person's character? Anyway, I love the meandering. Some folks are supreme artists. And going slow made it all glorious. Who knew a flat tire had so much potential for a beautiful late evening excursion? Beauty from ashes. And I had a nice little Christmas conversation with the young man who changed my tire. Seeds in the darkness may grow in the light If watered with a little prayer. Find the wonder in your "flat tires" today. It's good for the soul.

Boasting

Personal prejudice: Beware of the man or woman who keeps trying to impress you with all he or she is doing for Jesus. It has been my experience that the person who is faithfully serving our Lord does not feel the need to tell anyone what he is doing for his Savior. In fact, he or she is uncomfortable when their service attracts the attention and acclaim of others. They would rather be "invisible." Their prayer is that all the glory for whatever is accomplished be His and His alone. Humility not spiritual pride is the attribute that defines them--the attribute of the maturing saint. They feel no need whatsoever to draw attention to themselves. They struggle with that temptation every day. Sadly, in many instances those who are trying to impress others use that aura of "spirituality" to try to control others in addition to using their "service" to exalt themselves. Such "spirituality" is actually idolatry. Self-love. And, as I said, it's a love used to manipulate others into following them and honoring them and not God. Let the one that boasts, boast in the Lord alone.

Masters

Jesus forced the rich young ruler to acknowledge his real god. Though he turned away, I am certain that he never forgot that conversation. What motivated Jesus to open the young man's eyes to his idolatry, and to the reality that his idol separated him from knowing God and from having eternal life? How deeply He loved him. It is not love to withhold the truth so as not to hurt someone's feelings. Speak the truth in love, but speak it. Our culture worships the same god the rich young ruler worshiped. We must tell them that a man cannot worship God and materialism. To claim to be able to do both is to deceive oneself. And it's a deception that separates a man from the repentance necessary to embrace the eternal life offered by Christ through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and death-defeating resurrection "No man can serve two masters." "You shall have no other gods beside me."

Prayer for Wisdom

Often I don't pray for the promised wisdom to understand the purpose of my trials. Why? I don't want to know what He is trying to change in my character in order to make me more like Him. I'd rather just muddle along complaining to Him about my circumstances than surrender to His pruning. I like me the way I am, and I certainly don't want to pay the cost of transformation. Being "doubled minded" is what the Scripture calls that. Pretending to be spiritual and shouting how much I want to be more like Him when I really wish He would just leave me alone. The good thing is that He loves me too much to leave me alone. The misery is my doing--not His. Let us ask in faith without doubting that He will not only show us what needs to be changed, but by the Spirit bring about that change when I surrender to the honing of the trial.

Fears

One of the things that frightens me today is that we are allowing our children to live each day being constantly entertained. The result is a generation of surface thinkers who lack empathy for others. They live in an imaginary world where only happy endings or humorous endings are their reality. That becomes their criteria for placing a value on everything. What happens when that becomes their criteria for the serious study of Scripture? What happens when the "endings" in their lives are neither happy or humorous? What happens when they judge others--and respond to others--based on that criteria? I hope my fears are just the paranoia of an old man. I pray my fears are just the paranoia of an old man. A superficial church in thought and action will be a disaster for the church and the people the church has been called to reach for Him.

No Other Gods

Jesus forced the rich young ruler to acknowledge his real god. Though he turned away, I am certain that he never forgot that conversation. What motivated Jesus to open the young man's eyes to his idolatry, and to the reality that his idol separated him from knowing God and from having eternal life? How deeply He loved him. It is not love to withhold the truth so as not to hurt someone's feelings. Speak the truth in love, but speak it. Our culture worships the same god the rich young ruler worshiped. We must tell them that a man cannot worship God and materialism. To claim to be able to do both is to deceive oneself. And it's a deception that separates a man from the repentance necessary to embrace the eternal life offered by Christ through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and death-defeating resurrection "No man can serve two masters." "You shall have no other gods beside me."

Grief

One of my students asked me what to do about grief. I think my answer surprised him.

"First, grieve. Tears are a gift God has given us to let our sorrows flow from our hearts into the world. He weeps with us. Then, embrace your sorrow. A broken-heart--brokenness--is the greatest gift God has given me. When I embrace it as His gift to me, the embracing allows me--transforms me---into His likeness: "A man of sorrows." In a hurting, sin-stained, sorrowing world, He was the most compassionate, caring, encouraging, accepting, forgiving--loving--man that ever walked this earth. To be just a little more sensitive to those around me, I must embrace my sorrow. I must pray for Him to give me a heart sensitive to those around me who are hurting--so sensitive that they can never pass me by without my reaching out to them as He permits. He humbled me and broke my self-centeredness thirty years ago. I pray He never heals my brokenness. May His heart of sorrow for a broken world and broken people be my heart day-by-day. "Oh, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer."

Reflections from November 2019

God responds to our prayers in the same way that He calls us to respond to the words of others--quick to listen. slow to speak, slow to anger. And when He speaks it is in the still, quiet voice of love.

__________
If I truly love Him, His commands are not a burden or a duty, but a joy.  How can showing Him I love Him be a burden?
__________

The Father loved us so much that He sent the Son.  The Son loved us so much that He died in our place.  The Spirit loves us so much that He dwells within us and has sealed us for the day of Christ Jesus.
__________

Hugs are good.
__________

We can sin by our actions.  We can sin by our inaction.
__________

Half-truths are whole lies--even when the half-truth is "expressed" by the omission of the whole truth.
_________

Genuine gratitude and thanksgiving is always accompanied by action.  Words are not enough.  Necessary but not enough.  Show your gratitude for others with deeds of love.
__________

The fruit of the Spirit are action verbs.
__________

To know Him is to love Him.  To love Him is to obey Him.  To obey Him is to live the life of faith that pleases Him.
__________

When I struggle with finding the will of God in difficult times, I know one thing I can do to remain immersed in His perfect will:  "in everything give thanks for this is the will of God."
__________

I am thankful--and amazed--that the God who created the universe--the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God--knows me by name.  I am His beloved child.  Such a merciful, gracious, personal God.

Who Is Like Jehovah

I love the meaning of the prophet Micah's name: Who is like Jehovah. Oh, it's not a question with the obvious answer: Nobody. It is instead a shout of praiseful wonder. Time again he had seen God at work in ways beyond His understanding, in ways so totally unexpected, in ways that took his breath away. So it is that at those times in our life when God works His wonders in ways that surprise and amaze us that we just pause, and our heart cries out in praise "Who is like Jehovah!" As the hymn states He wears so many forms of love that He is always surprising us with more and more evidence of how wide and deep and high and incomprehensible is His love for us. We can't hide from His love. We can't doubt His love away. He always "finds" us, lavishes His love upon us, and proves once more His lovingkindness for each of His children. The older I grow, and the more I've seen and experienced His love and work in my life and in the life of those I know and love, the more my heart in awe cries out "Who is like Jehovah. He "pardons our iniquities" He "passes over" our rebellious transgressions. He "casts all our sins" into "the depth of the sea." Our God "delights in unchanging love."

Thanksgiving at The Acres 2019

It was a good break at The Acres. Almost got everything finished--two small remakes to complete. Hey, I have to have something to do in December. And I needed to work on my procrastination skills.
Loved the rainy days. My pond needs about six to eight inches before it freezes up. Have to have plenty of room for my goldfish to sink deep for the winter and stay warm. They are up and about every day lately. Cold weather lovers I guess. Sluggish, but up and about. Orange clouds in the water. Perfectly still--but they can disappear in a second.
Had the duck dinner with part of the family. Sadly, the other part had to work. Duck, dressing (fake), veggies provided by Brad. He's becoming a chef. And they took the hour to drive to my place!!! Can't beat that. Even Dumb Animal hung out with us for awhile giving us her opinions on the state of the world. Good conversation and shared love. Isn't it amazing that you can just quietly sit in a room with those you love, and it's a delight. Never underestimate the joy of presence. Or fail to take advantage of it. Who knows what a day will bring--let alone another year until another Thanksgiving with family. Got my Christmas stuff up =). Takes a second to say and a second to do. My trees are outside. God will decorate them with snow. And the stars make great ornaments. Use the moon for the top of the trees. So easy to do. And gorgeous. And then after December's celebration, two months until the crocus and orchard iris and snowdrops start signalling that spring is on the way.
The best part was being outside almost every day. The tragedy was the loss of the main part of the Sentinel. Fell in the Bog thankfully. It was huge! The wind has provided a haven of rest for some creatures who like to live in the swamp. Someday maybe, or maybe not, I can just hide out at The Acres year around. Until that becomes His will, I will by His grace keep trying to somehow show young people His love and His grace and how--whether they like it or not--He wants their minds filled with His truth and their lives filled with His grace. Discipleship we call it. Loving the Lord with all our hearts, souls, mind, and strength is the calling of each of us--regardless of our age.
Thank You, Lord, for a joyous week at the haven you've given me. Empower me each day to take your presence with me into the classroom. May Christ be seen in me. And remember a thankful heart is spontaneous in the daily life on one filled with the Spirit.

Planning

The man who makes his plans without taking into account His accountability and responsibility to God will find himself wandering lost on the crooked path that leads to disaster. "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight." All your ways. The man who refuses to trust in God's loving, sovereign hand to guide him is a man ends up trapped on a winding path that has no direction, no meaning, and no fulfillment. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death." Frustration, failure, blindness, and empty successes are the stops along the way of the crooked path. "Your word is a lamp unto my path, and a light unto my way." To make plans without God is to have no plan at all.

Thankful for a Few of My Favorite Things

Thanksgiving Day:

Thank You, Lord, for some of my favorite things--

Brad, Ben, Mindy May, Jamie, Moira, Evie
Getting to teach teenagers--for a living no less =)
All teaching moments
Those times when the Spirit takes a passage you've read "a million times"--even taught it--and shows you a beautiful truth you've overlooked every time.
A walk in a misty rain
Stars and lightning bugs competing for the applause
Thunderstorms--sometimes competing with the lightning bugs as well
Lectures in Catonese
Cardinal baseball--baseball
Good reads--Gilead by Robinson, Scarlet Letter by Hawthorn, My Name is Asher Lev by Potok
Good poetry anthologies--Leavings by Berry, Why I Wake Early by Oliver
Breakfast for supper
My Gardening Angels giving me another surprise
Manual labor outside
Quiet, solitude, calm
The old hymns
Bird watching--though I think they may be watching me?
Sitting in the dark watching a snowfall paint the world white
Meditating on the Word
Each day

Thank You, Lord

Day 18:

Sing along with me:

"Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul; thank You, Lord, for making me whole; thank You, Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free."

Thank You.

Lord.

Thankful for Simplicity

Day 17
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

An old poet has said--it was either Longfellow or Lowell talking about Longfellow (maybe both?)--"Simplicity carried to extremes is elegance." Today, the Lord gave me another elegant day. Rose early to a sky streaked with pinks. A slow walk--redundant, I know--revealed a bird feeder knocked to the ground, the calico cat roaming The Acres, the new bed that I built yesterday untouched by the varmints of The Acres. A calming, serene traverse of The Acres.
Had to leave The Acres for a short while--grocery store trip in preparation for Duck Day. Threw bird seed on the ground as I left knowing the show would begin before I returned. Read the paper as I had a little breakfast--fake waffles. Cat lapped, of course. No reading anything without making room for comments in Catonese--and some purring. She loves to watch our feathered friends as well. And she occasionally exerts her influence by going to the doorwindow and showing her face so the friends will take off. Such power!!
Just sat and watched awhile--God's creation going about its business. Read a bit of poetry. Read some more of Technopoly by Postman.
Then, it was off to "work." The day was warm--at least until three or four. Still never cold cold. Re-did two more beds. I love that the Lord has left me with at least a little strength for manual labor--to make war with the curse. Tomorrow, He'll have to give me enough to redo three more beds. One of the beds today I turned into a yellow bed. Yellow dwarf iris, yellow hyacinth, yellow/gold crocus, and the grape hyacinth that have a touch of yellow in them. Of course, when you move things around, you're not perfectly sure that you moved the right things. But I can live with the expectation of a year of yellow. Those dwarf iris even re-bloom in the fall. Will be lovely! The second bed is just a mixture of whatever I could dig up elsewhere. Going to be a year of surprise, surprise, surprise The gift of manual labor is such a marvelous thing. Oh, I"ll be sore. Arthur will complain a bit. But work is such a refreshing thing--such a beautiful gift.
Now it's time for the evening "ritual." I will read a Psalm, meditate on it for awhile, and then off to sleep. I have found that a Psalm before rest is a lovely thing. I believe the Spirit immerses my mind and soul with it throughout the nighttime. If I wake before morning and I always do a couple times, the Psalm is immediately in my thoughts. And in the morning it is still there refreshing my heart and mind.
A spectacular day? Hardly. Breakfast, walking, bird watching, lecture in Catonese, reading, sitting silently and observing the sparrows that He has His eyes on, physical labor outside, a Psalm, and a night of rest. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of simple living in a world saturated with Your Presence. "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

I did.

Thankful for His Gifts to Me

Day 16
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . .

I am thankful for the patience of God. He never gives up on me. Patiently, even at the age of 73, He continues to transform me into His likeness.
I am thankful for the kindness of God. He daily intercedes on my behalf before our Father. His grace is greater than all my sin. His kind forgiveness everlasting.
I am thankful for the comfort of God. He fills the empty places with His presence.
I am thankful for the lovingkindness of God. His loyal love for me is such an encouragement. He disciplines when necessary. He edifies when necessary. He encourages when necessary. He bares my burdens when necessary. His lovingkindness endures forever.
I am thankful for the gentleness of God. How many times has He stooped over to lift me up, carry me when I was flat on my face in failure. Strengthless. Weak and stumbling on the journey. And I have felt His embrace, His faithfulness, His love for me as my Father and God. His rest.
I am thankful for the joy of God. In times of heartache and disappointment, He has filled me with His joy--the joy that endured the cross for me. It is the joy that enables me to daily complete the ministry He has called me to do. It is the joy that engulfs me even when the sorrow is still there--incomprehensible.
I am thankful for the peace of God. Through the power of submissive, thankful prayer in all situations, He enables me to continue to love right and think right in every circumstance. It's presence surpasses all understanding.

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

Thankful By Name

Day 15
I am thankful--and amazed--that the God who created the universe--the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God knows me by name. I am His beloved child. Such a merciful, gracious, personal God.

Thankful Wonders

Day 14:
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

The nine days of Thanksgiving break have begun. Early this morning a small herd of deer came meandering through The Acres. They took the exact same path as Tom, Mom and the Seven Young Turks took all summer into fall. Slip out of the trees near the driveway up near the cave. But stay just on the edge. Move quietly across the driveway past the hickories, swing through the side yard, and slide through the trees into the meadow. Is there some kind of invisible animal "road signs" that I can't see. "Come out here from the woods." "Linger and munch for awhile but stay close to the shelter of the trees." "Cross here by the hickories. Turn left past the blackberry bush." "Enter the meadow here." Strange--but fascinating.
Nature in cahoots?
And why is it the goldfish in the pond love a thin layer of ice on the surface. When that happens "word" must get around quickly because up they come by the hundreds. They just float there under the ice--beautiful but content. Why is an ice roof so valued?
And when I feed my feathered friends in the morning, there is a natural pecking order. A few minutes of bird chatter--blue jays must be in charge of the megaphones. Then, first and always first are the hit-and-run feeders--chickadees, titmouse, nuthatches. No one else stops by and settles in until they have first made their incursions multiple times. Are they the scouts of the bird world? Do their tactics make them safer than the other birds--draw out any predators that are in the area but too slow to nab them as they flit in and quickly out again?
I do not know how it all works. But it is fascinating and beautiful. Follow your paths and road signs creatures. Bask in your cold tub of ice. Send in the scouts. Ah, the beauty of the earth and its creatures spoken into existence by the God of Creation who cares for them all. And the old man watching them!

Thankful for Reminders

Day 13

I am thankful for David's reminders of who He is:

The King of all the earth

My Rock

My Salvation

My Shield

My very present help in time of trouble

My Fortress--my Strong Tower

My Refuge

My Shepherd

The Mighty One

The Lord of Hosts

A Father to the fatherless and a judge for the widows

My Lord and my God
The Living God

I shall not fear what man can do to me.

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

Thankful for the Gift of Song

Day 12
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

I am thankful for the gift of music, of song. I can't sing, neither can I count the times that He has put a song in my heart as I go throughout the day. Song revives the spirit, focuses the mind on His love, encourages the soul, brightens the heart. "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." Song--touches my heart as I sing, touches the hearts of others as we sing together, and resonates in the throne room of our Lord. Powerful gift is it not?

My favorite songs:
Deeper and Deeper
When Morning Gilds the Sky
Cleanse Me
One Day
Fairest Lord Jesus
How Great Thou Art
So Will I
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The Sands of Time Are Sinking
I Am His, and He Is Mine

Hope the Lord puts one of these in your heart and mind today. I'll be joyful noising some of them all day long!

Oh, and I've shared this with you before, but here's the CD I hope to own one eternal day. Drop by my room in the back of my Father's house, and we can listen to it together.

1. The Morning Stars singing together at the creation of the world. What were they singing? Genesis One, of course. "And God saw that it was good."
2. Jesus and the disciples singing as they left The Upper Room and then walked to the Garden of Gethsemane.
3. Habakkuk on his stringed instruments singing his marvelous testimony "Yet, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation"
4. David singing the Twenty-third Psalm at night, under the stars, to still the fears of the sheep.
5. The Jewish multitude singing together the Psalms of Ascent as they marched up to Jerusalem for the Feast.
6. Moses and the impromptu choir singing on the other side of the Red Sea. Think their voices might have been full of awe and joy? So much joy that it reached Miriam's feet.
7. Paul and Silas--the duet. I wonder which one was the tenor? Or maybe they both just sang the melody. Brought down the "house."
8. The angels on Christmas morning--"Glory to God in the highest!" Indeed!
9. Mary singing to her Son--the baby who was the Creator and the Savior. You don't really believe she didn't sing to Him, do you? Might that be Joseph we hear humming in the background?
10. The original Oratorio of the Messiah.being sung this very moment in the throne room of our God. I hope to, sooner rather than later, join that choir. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.to receive honor, and dominion, and glory, and power forever and ever. Amen!"

Thankful for Good Gifts

Day 11

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

I am thankful for those times when my soul and spirit were weeping and even my bones ached because of deep sorrow that God gave me the strength to do physical exercise that was a catharsis for my spiritual aches.
I am thankful that on those days when the aches of aging cause my physical body to moan that God gives me the strength for a quiet walk with Him at The Acres that turns my focus to Him and restores my soul.
I am thankful that at one of those times when I needed His intervention the most He gave me a "job"--actually a number of them--in South Carolina. My parents and sisters were a great blessing to my boys and I--brothers-in-law too! In the church I was fed by great teaching. Friends were made that I will never forget. He gave abundantly.
I am thankful for His gift of great friends in Ohio. They have encouraged me, loved and prayed for my sons (still do), allowed me to use the gift of teaching in a variety of ways--iron sharpening iron.
I am thankful for His humbling. A broken heart that has placed in me a sensitivity to the needs of others around me. May it never "heal." A timid and shy spirit that reminds me every day that my teaching is His work being done through me and not my own "expertise." "Without Him you can do nothing." Nothing.
I am thankful that in His kind provision He has in my old age given me The Acres. It is the perfect gift for my need for solitude, meditation, physical work, and love for the beauty in His Creation.

Thank you, Lord, for the showers of blessing--in sunshine and in times of sorrow You have lovingly "rained on my parade," given me a deep sense of Your presence, and showered me with nothing but good gifts from my loving Father.

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

Thankful for Relationships

Day 10
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

I am thankful that I was raised in a home where serving Christ was spontaneous--from serving in the church, to giving, to teaching the Bible, to holding Bible classes for the children in the neighborhood, to demonstrating hospitality to so many.
I am thankful for my sons and the women that complete their lives.
I am thankful for the "kids" I get to interact with day-by-day. All of them.
I am thankful when I hear of those I have been blessed to interact with in the past who are faithfully serving Him.
I am thankful for those who labor for Him beside me day-by-day. Their dedication, joy, and devotion to Him are my inspiration--my encouragement. Sharing our labor of love makes such service a delight and not a burden.
I am thankful for those that God has brought into my life--my entire life--to model Christ for me to emulate.

Relationships--a marvelous gift from the God of relationship.

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

Thankful for Taste Buds

Day 9

I'm thankful for taste buds:

Polish sausage, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes
Lemon meringue pie
Sweet and sour chicken (or pork).
Ginger chicken
Eggs over easy with bacon, hash browns, white toast--any time of the day.
Filet mignon wrapped in bacon--medium well (baked potato)
Thin oatmeal raisin cookies
Chicken and dumplings old style (see Mom's recipe)
Duck
The dreaded green bean casserole
Broccoli, lima beans, Brussel sprouts (sorry, veggie haters)
Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Macaroni and cheese with Velveeta--the fake cheese
Deviled eggs
Stew made in a crock pot
Fresh salad with Marzetti country French dressing

I hope there's lots of food in Heaven. =) Thank You, Lord, for taste buds!

Thankful for What He Has Done

Day 8
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

I am thankful that I have been regenerated. Dead in my sins, the wages just, But while I was still a sinner, He died for me. I am now alive in Christ for all eternity.
I am thankful that I have been redeemed. A slave to my flesh, a slave to sin, shackled to a master who is the father of all lies and the destroyer of those he enslaves. The price for my freedom was beyond my ability to pay and growing greater by the day. But He paid the price in full. Nailed my debt to His cross. He set me free to follow and worship Him--a bond-servant of my loving Master.
I am thankful for His mercy. Justly an object of His wrath; instead He has shown me mercy and removed me from all condemnation. The wrath of God poured out on Him should have been mine. Instead the love of God is lavished on me every day of my life.
I am thankful that I have been justified. Clothed in the filthy rags of my righteousness, I could never stand in His holy presence for a second. But He has taken off my filthy rags and clothed me with His righteousness. I am a new creation. He will present me to the Father faultless.
I am thankful for His sanctification. He set me apart as one of his holy ones. Me! And when I see Him, I will be like Him for I shall see Him as He is--The Holy One.
I am thankful for His reconciliation. I was an enemy of God--the Devil's soldier vainly trying to war against God and His will. But He transferred me out of the kingdom of darkness and into His Kingdom of Light--the kingdom of the Father's Beloved. I am now a soldier of the cross, the captive of His triumph over sin, death, and the Devil. Protected by the armor of God and strengthened by the power of prayer, I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me.
I am thankful for His grace. None of those things could I earn. None of those things did I deserve. Buy by His grace I have been regenerated, redeemed, received mercy, been justified, sanctified, reconciled. I have been freely given grace that is greater than all my sins.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!!

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . .

Thankful for Who He Is

Day 7

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

I am thankful my Savior is the Living Word. He spoke the world into being, He sustains and holds together the universe with the power of His word, He has given us the written Word that we might deepen our understanding of His majesty, and He will bring everything to completion--the destruction of evil--through the power of His Word.
I am thankful that my Savior is the Water of Life. The fountain of His presence in my soul quenches my spiritual thirst.
I am thankful that my Savior is the Bread of Life. He strengthens me as I feast on His presence and His Word.
I am thankful that my Savior is the Light of the World. I have been removed from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom on infinite light.
I am thankful that my Savior is the Resurrection and the Life. I believe, and death has lost its grip on me.
I am thankful that my Savior is the Good Shepherd. He gave His life for me. He leads me by still waters and into the green pastures. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I am thankful that my Savior is the True Vine. As I abide in Him and He abides in me, I can bear much fruit to His glory. More like Him every day.
I am thankful that my Savior is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Through Him I have come to the Father, never to be cast out. Faultless in His presence by His eternal grace.

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."

Day Six: Thankful for Memories

Day Six:

strange fact: The house I grew up in--6337 Chatham Avenue in Wellston, Missouri--just sold in February of this year for $4,610. They must not have known that I used to live there. Would have sold for millions no doubt. =) Looks to be in fairly good shape though nothing that used to be around it is still there. Well, it was built in 1910 or something like that. Despite the changes--brings back memories. I had a great childhood. It was a real neighborhood. Cousins lived right up the street. Chatham Bible Church was there as well. (The church building is still there!) Greatest bakery in history was at the top of the street--Krausse's or something like that. Walked or rode bikes everywhere. Played every sport imaginable in the streets and alleys. Give me three friends and we could play Indian Ball on the concrete lot by the old high school. I have no idea why they called it Indian Ball. Played basketball for hours behind my cousin Ed's house as a boy. Later played pickup games behind the Catholic school. Grandma Blackburn lived right behind us. On days home from school "sick," we would spend time playing checkers. She was a fierce competitor--no breaks for grandson. =) Developed some loves there--in addition to basketball, baseball, Cardinal baseball, sycamores, iris, Rose of Sharons for the hummingbirds, cats, bleeding hearts--get some things in your system, can't get them out. Good thing! So many memories. Thank you, Lord! Wouldn't be me without them. I suppose that's a scary thought to some people. Priorities were family, friends, playing outside 'til dark, church three times a week--at least (they gave out the best boxes of Christmas candy), coffee cake on Sunday morning. "There Is nothing more extraordinary than the ordinary."--Longfellow. So many things to be thankful in this life--brief and fast-paced as it is. Take the time to recall the blessings of your youth!